THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011
VOL. 19 NO. 206
BERLIN, N.H.
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Gorham voters approve budget Incumbent Robitaille BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— The proposed operating budget for the town of Gorham was approved Tuesday, though not without some opposition. At the annual town meeting, voters approved the proposed $3,837,797 operating budget for the town, which is a $57,379 increase over last year’s budget. Voters approved the warrant article by a show of hands. The Gorham Board of Selectmen recommended the budget, and the budget committee recommended it by a 5-3 vote. Finance Director Denise Vallee said the increase is due to personnel benefits, but most of the lines contained in the operating budget are down from last year. Several residents felt that due to the economic times, the voters should cut the budget.
Mark St. Germaine said times are tough and it’s time to cut back. He echoed a comment made during the annual school meeting, and said it’s time to say “no.” John Losier, one of the budget committee members who voted against recommending the budget, said the economy in the area is terrible and the taxpayers are finding it tough to absorb more increases. Losier said while he didn’t want to designate specific areas to cut, the town should look to see if there are purchases that can be put off for a year or other items it can live without to reduce the budget. Jay Holmes proposed an amendment to cut the operating budget down to an even $3 million. see GORHAM page 7
wins reelection bid BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— Incumbent Paul Robitaille Tuesday won his re-election bid for the Gorham Board of Selectmen during the annual town election. Robitaille received 227 votes while challenger Terry Rhoderick received 164 votes. Aside from the race for the Board of Selectmen there were only three other contested seats on the ballot: a one-year term on the planning board, for a three year seat on the planning board and for a seat on the Gorham Randolph Cooperative School Board. “I want to thank the community of Gorham for giving me the chance to serve another three years,” said Robitaille. He said the vote shows the community has confidence in what he’s done during his previous terms on the board. He added he looks forward
to working to bring prosperity to the community. Robitaille said Rhoderick ran an excellent campaign leading up to the election. While Rhoderick wasn’t elected to the Board of Selectmen, he won a twoyear seat on the budget committee. In the race for the oneyear seat on the planning board, Earl McGillicuddy won the seat with 211 votes and incumbent John Losier received 162 votes. There were three candidates for two three-year seats on the planning board on the ballot as well. Incumbents Dan Buteau and Mike Guay won the seats. Buteau received 253 votes, Guay received 250 votes and Robert Mengel received 79 votes. The last contested race was for the G.R.S. School Board. Three candidates filed for see ROBITAILLE page 5
Voters adopt noise ordinance BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
John and Greta Smithson, of Randolph, wait their turn to vote before Randolph town meeting in the Randolph town hall. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
Randolph voters add $4,500 to town budget BY GAIL SCOTT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
RANDOLPH—In a calm town meeting Tuesday, Randolph voters chose to add $4,500 to the requested (and approved) town budget of $448,857 in order to aid the Family Resource Center and the Gorham Community Learning Center, both in Gorham. The appropriation for the Family Resource Center is $3,000 while the appropriation for the Learning Center is $1,500. Both amounts were included on the warrant by petition of local citi-
zens but they were not recommended by the selectmen. The town meeting agreed that these institutions provide valuable services to the community at large and should be supported, after some discussion of how much Shelburne and Gorham are appropriating for each and some clarifying of confusion about the two institutions which are independent non-profit organizations. A number of Randolph voters initially thought they were one organization. see RANDOLPH page 9
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GORHAM— Gorham residents Tuesday voted by a narrow margin to recommend the Board of Selectmen approve a noise ordinance. The recommendation from Gorham residents passed only by a 74- 70 vote at the annual town meeting. Some residents felt the ordinance is needed to control excess noise in town, including engine brakes on tractor trailer trucks, while others felt the ordinance is too restrictive and could do more harm than good. Town Manager Robin Frost said the ordinance isn’t designed to be restrictive, but rather have a broad interpretation. She added the reason for this is so police can deal with the complaints on a case-by-case basis. One of the major reasons
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behind putting together the ordinance was the noise that comes from tractor trailer trucks using engine brakes in the downtown. Ron Dagasse said the noise from the trucks can be disruptive to businesses, like his motel, but also to the residents along Route 2 and 16. He added people are fed up and this proposal is a way to calm things down. “I think it’s a fantastic proposal,” said Ron Dagasse. Robert Demers asked why the town was getting involved with the noise since it’s and issue for the state, because the state owns Routes 2 and 16. He added the local police are already stretched and this is just adding something else for them to deal with. Selectman Paul Robitaille said the town attempted to contract the state to deal see ORDINANCE page 15
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